As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2026, a milestone marking a quarter-millennium of national history, it is worth reflecting not only on the founding documents and political milestones, but also on the deep, continuous threads of Indigenous knowledge and artistry that have shaped the land long before 1776 and continue to enrich it today. One such living thread is Joann Johnson, a fourth-generation Navajo-DIné basket weaver from Monument Valley, Utah. Johnson’s work stands as a powerful embodiment of cultural resilience, technical mastery, and artistic innovation within one of the Southwest’s most revered traditions.

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